After receiving requests for a smaller version of Pusheen the Cat, I've started and made quite a bit of progress on it:

Isn't she adorable? Unfortunately, I don't have the original Pusheen yarn colors, so I had to improvise. I personally like the tan/black combo :)

I've also restarted a previously shared project:

Here is the original (crochet-version) project:

I keep referring to it as a "project", mainly because I enjoy the suspense it gives people. I'll reveal what it is when the pattern is completely written up (it will be available for free). I started it over because I realized that knitting it would save me a lot of yarn, and possibly a trip to the yarn store. I do a lot more crocheting then I do knitting, so even though the main part of the pattern is very basic, it keeps me entertained.

A little while ago, I showed this bag that I "finished":

I added the lining, and eventually added a flap:

My sister has a large bag of buttons, and it was fun to search through them to find the perfect one (it's kind of hard to see since the photo is so bad. It's a wooden 2-holed button).

I've made a bit more progress on it than the photo below, but I'm working on a mini version of Pusheen!:

She's going to be palm sized, so it should be adorable :)

The title is a bit of a mouthful, but it says it all!

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Between March and April, the Freshstitches Ravelry group hosted a spring swap!

How did it go down? Well, since it was a "secret" swap, you know who you are sending to, but you don't know who you are receiving from!

All of the animals were super cute, but I definitely like mine the best: 

                Aren't they cute? The crocheter who sent my package made them it my favorite colors!

Along with these cute critters, I also received some yarn:

I've always wanted to try ILTY, but since I don't live near a Hobby Lobby, I couldn't, so this yarn was extra special! It went on to become these guys:

And if that wasn't awesome enough, I also got lots of other great stuff:

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What did I send in my package, you ask? Well, I couldn't get very good pictures because I had to send them off later that day, but I sent these two stuffed animals along with some yarn:

Like I said, I couldn't get very good pictures, but you get the idea: Neon colored animals :)

Recently, I've become obsessed with TricksyKnitter.com, a knitting chart maker. It gives you the tools to create your own color work knitting charts!

This is one of the charts I made:

I plan on embroidering it on a hat. It's going to be so awesome (you're welcome to use the chart, BWT!)!

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Yes, I said embroider. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at knitting color work. But (much to my delight), there is an embroidery stitch called the duplicate stitch (it may look a little intimidating at first, but don't worry. You'll get the hang of it). It looks just like the right side of stockinette stitch! So, even if you aren't very good at knitting color work, you can still have a really awesome, colorful piece.



Anyway, back to the free pattern! I designed Blank Canvas so I could have a go-to, easy-to-memorize pattern that I could embroider the different charts I came up with on. It currently only comes in one size, but in time it will be updated to accommodate different sizes. 

Size:

20"-23" head circumference (the hat is quite stretchy).

Supplies:

175 yards of worsted weight yarn (try something with wool in it. It's floppier and drapes better than most acrylic yarns).

A 4.00 mm (6) 16" circular needle

A set of 4 4.00 mm double pointed needles

A stitch marker (optional, but recommended)

A tapestry needle (for weaving in the ends)

Stitch and technique abbreviations:

Knit stitch: k

Purl stitch: p

Knit 2 together (decrease): k2tog

Stitch(es): st(es)

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With the circular needle, cast on 96 stitches.

1-12) *k 2, p 2* repeat from * around (96 st(es) in each round, for a total of 12 rounds)

13-56) K each st (96 st(es) in each round, for a total of 44 rounds)

57) *k2tog, k in next 14 st(es)* repeat from * 6 times (90 st(es))

58) *k2tog, k in next 13 st(es)* repeat from * 6 times (84 st(es))

Now would be a good time to switch from the circular needle to the double pointed needles.

59) *k2tog, k in next 12 st(es)* repeat from * 6 times (78 st(es))

60) *k2tog, k in next 11 st(es)* repeat from * 6 times (72 st(es))

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Continue decreasing in this manner until you have 6 stitches left on your needles. Cut the yarn with a yarn tail about 7-8" long, and thread the tapestry needle with this tail. Using the needle, pull the yarn through all 6 remaining stitches on your needles. Pull it tight, and tie a knot. Then, weave it into the inside.

Congratulations! You just finished a super awesome hat!

(BTW, this was my FO for the week).

I hand-dyed the yarn I used to make the hats above, but here are some yarn brands I recommend you use for this project:

It's been a week since the last blog post? Yeesh. Sorry 'bout that. I've been knitting/crocheting a bunch of different projects that I didn't although I made a lot of progress on them, I didn't finish any. But, you can always count on WIP Wednesday since I have a lot of unfinished projects.

For instance, I've been knitting hats recently:

This is just one of the hats I've been knitting. I knitted another one, and plan on making many more (just i

Remember the thingymababa I showed you yesterday? Well, I made a lot of progress on it:

I'm currently on round 19. I still have a lot of crocheting a head of me, though!

I'm also very close to finished another African flower bag:

It still needs a fleece lining, but all of the crocheting is done. I made a few modifications to the original pattern to make it bigger.

That's all for this week :)

Let me start off this post by saying how much I hate that the title of every blog post is capitalized. But, it came with the blog template, so I can't change it (FYI, this blog post isn't just me ranting about how much I hate the capitalized blog post title. There will be something yarn related).

As I was saying, something yarn related:

Pictured above are different shapes I'm experimenting with for a new design. As you can see, I cut them both short, as I decided to go with a different shape. As you might have guessed by the title, I'm not going to tell you what it is until it's finished. Here are the two colors I'm going to use:

I'm using 5 skeins of the pink, and only 1 skein of the darker color (it's a purple-ish maroon-ish color).

Do you think you know what it is? Comment below and tell me what you think.




P.S. It's not an afghan ;)

Remember my scrapghan? Well, I'm pleased to say that I got a lot more progress on it:

It's gotten so big I can't take pictures of it on my white poster board, so I'll have to work with the green carpet :P

I've also started an scrapaghan with my bulky weight yarn:

Not the prettiest colors in the world, but the yarn is very soft, so it will be comfy cozy :)

                             This week, I was able to use up two skeins of cotton yarn making this:

What is it, you might ask? I don't rightly know. An alien? A jellybean? No, not a jellybean, since jellybeans don't have eyes (well, the last time I saw a jellybean, it didn't have eyes. Did they suddenly sprout some and I didn't notice?). Either way, that's more cotton out of my stash and another animal to be loved.

A few weeks ago, I ordered some pencil roving from LinYarns. I'm pleased to say that today it arrived!

The photos really don't do it justice (the sun was going down). Isn't it lovely? I can't wait to spin it!

What is "pencil roving" you might ask? Well, In Laymen's terms, it's roving that is the thickness of a pencil. It's pre-drafted, so you don't have to worry about your bad drafting skills; Your yarn will come out a lot better if you use pencil roving. I personally am very bad at drafting (well, drafting the wool evenly), so this should make my finished product much better looking than if I drafted it myself.

I've got to go now. Ba bye :)

Recently, I've had a lot of projects on my plate. But, I was able to squeeze in a little time to work on a bunny I've been designing:

Attaching the 6.00 mm eyes was a pain, but the only other eyes I had were 12.00 mm, which were much too big. I plan on giving her a little pink nose, a fluffy tail, and possibly a bow or hat of some sorts!

I have a lot of black yarn on my hands after getting the idea that knitting a cape was a good idea (maybe it is, but it's not for me). So, what better way to use it up than making a large project with multiple strands of yarn held together? Pictured above is the makings of a snake. The pattern I'm using is from Stacey Trock's book, Crocheted Softies (which is full of awesome designs that I highly recommend):

They're so many great designs in this book. I think when I have fewer projects that I need to work on, I'll make the fish. I mean, look at that guy! He's adorable!

                                                This week, I was able to complete a teddy bear:

I made a few modifications to this adorable teddy bear. I was had a small amount of yarn left, so I had to downsize it slightly. He has yarn eyes, as it's going to a baby.

_____________________________________________________________________________________ I really wish I had more to show this week, but I don't. I keep starting a bunch of projects even though I've already got a lot going on. Anyways, I've got to go now. Have a great weekend :) -Emma

Like the title implies, this hat is crocheted using multiple strands of yarn (3, to be exact). Using a larger hook and thicker yarn, you get a hat that is cute, cozy, and quick to make :)

Note: This pattern is for a teen/adult (with the head size of approximately 21"-25" around). 

-Approx. 300 yards of aran weight yarn in separate 100 yard strands (Red Heart Super Saver was used in the making of this hat).
-A 11.5 mm crochet hook
-A handful or two of polyester stuffing
-A darning/taspestry needle

Magic ring: mr
Chain stitch: ch
Double crochet stitch: dc
Slip stich: sl st
Stich(es): st(es)

1) Mr, ch 3, dc 12 into the ring, sl st to the first dc (12 st(es))
2) Ch 3, dc 2 in each st. sl st to the first dc (24 st(es))
3) Ch 3, *dc 2 in next st, dc in next st* repeat from * 11 times (36 st(es))
4-9) Ch 3, dc in each st, sl st to the first dc (36 st(es) in each round)

After round 9, fasten off, and with the tapestry needle, weave in the yarn ends.

                         Okay, technically it's not a pompom, but I didn't know what else to call it. 

1) Mr, ch 3, dc 12 into the ring, sl st to the first dc (12 st(es))
2-3) Ch 3, dc in each st, sl st to the first dc (12 st(es) in each round)

After round 3, fasten off, and with the tapestry needle, attach the pompom to round one of the hat (be sure to add the polyester stuffing before you completely sew it on).

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And that's it! You've got yourself a hat perfect for enduring harsh winters, or the occasional cold breeze.

I would love to see your finished hats! If you have the time, please upload photos of them on Ravelry or share a link to the photo. It makes me so happy when someone makes something from one of my patterns and shares it with me :)

P.S. If you're having trouble finding the right supplies, I've linked all the products I've used below.

So, yesterday I posted a free pattern. In the post, I included a photo of the afghan I was making. That photo wasn't entirely up to date. I'm pleased to say that since that photo was taken, I have made a bit of progress on it:

            I crocheted the last round of it with my handspun yarn (which was (roughly) worsted weight):

                                   Along with progress on my afghan, I've been knitting a shawl:

It's a very basic pattern. Nothing too fancy (but realized after starting it that if I'm going to put this much work into knitting a shawl, it should be fancy. Oh well). I needed to make something that would at least make a dent into this giant skein of yarn I was given:

I debating using it for a sweater, but I knew that if I would knit a sweater, I wouldn't want to knit it out of cheap acrylic. Wool, maybe. But acrylic? No.

That's all for now. I have a post planned for tomorrow, so stay tuned :)